I was listening to a podcast last week about Mindfulness. The guest speaker was arguing that to minimize stress we need to address where we have our attention rather than our thinking. Now, for a girl who's big into the power of thinking about thinking, that caught my attention!
He suggested that our stress can be relieved by being fully present, with every sense, in every moment. After all, this present breath is the only one we have.
Imagine, being totally present in every moment, paying full attention so we miss nathing (as the Northern Irish would say). Every sense, fully engaged, taking it all in. I started to wonder, how much more would we hear from God if we lived like that? How much more of humanity would we marvel at? How much more would we know about ourselves?
The day after hearing the podcast I got my daily scripture text from a pastor friend in Florida. It was Psalm 8v4 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Now there's a revelation!
The Lord is 'mindful' of us.
It's not that God's over there somewhere and we need to catch His eye; rather His full attention is on us. With every sense He is fully present in every moment, with our every breath. He misses nothing. He is not distracted or tired, apathetic or stressed.
It also means He's not just looking out for us, keeping a wee eye on us. Rather He is 100% rooting for us, paying attention to each uttered cry and plea, each thankful shout and joyful smile.
Be mindful this week and know that you are minded!!
Sunday 27 February 2011
Tuesday 8 February 2011
The Force
Sunday night was another American Cultural experience - the Superbowl....
Church had to be four hours earlier, Trader Joes sold out of crisps/chips, and grown women decided that football was really important. Thankfully I was at the house of lovely Laura and marvelous Molly who are not only fabulous cooks, but they were also very happy for me and my dear friend Northern Irish friend Lesley to only get excited by the adverts. BIG deal to get airtime advertising space during the Superbowl - watched by 111 million viewers!
My favourite ad was for the new VW Passat. A little boy dressed as Darth Vadar tries to use The Force on his dog, the drier, a doll and his lunch. Then Dad arrives home in the new Passat. As the boy zaps the parked car with The Force his Dad locks the car with the keyfob from the kitchen - brilliant! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN41zcXJjmk).
How like me can you get? I try to use my force to shift people, inanimate objects, weight, circumstances. Yet, when Father gets involved - bam! Surprise! With all the resources of Father's storehouse and the company of heaven at His command it's a no-brainer really. Less of me and more of Him.
May His Force be with you .......
Church had to be four hours earlier, Trader Joes sold out of crisps/chips, and grown women decided that football was really important. Thankfully I was at the house of lovely Laura and marvelous Molly who are not only fabulous cooks, but they were also very happy for me and my dear friend Northern Irish friend Lesley to only get excited by the adverts. BIG deal to get airtime advertising space during the Superbowl - watched by 111 million viewers!
My favourite ad was for the new VW Passat. A little boy dressed as Darth Vadar tries to use The Force on his dog, the drier, a doll and his lunch. Then Dad arrives home in the new Passat. As the boy zaps the parked car with The Force his Dad locks the car with the keyfob from the kitchen - brilliant! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN41zcXJjmk).
How like me can you get? I try to use my force to shift people, inanimate objects, weight, circumstances. Yet, when Father gets involved - bam! Surprise! With all the resources of Father's storehouse and the company of heaven at His command it's a no-brainer really. Less of me and more of Him.
May His Force be with you .......
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